Radiation Therapy Help?

HNC group about differences in Proton and IMRT.....this guy has had both.

 "I did have IMRT twice, which is photon therapy, HD-IORT twice, which is Neutron radiation, basiclly a newer high dose brachytherapy, and Just finished Proton Therapy, which is particle beam radiation. They are all External Beam Radiation. Each is used for different situations. Proton is more precise, organ sparin, higher dose in the entrance and into the tumor with no exit wound. I don't know if it would be practical with large tumors, to treat a wide area like IMRT does, since Proton Therpy takes twice as long as IMRT does. I had two areas to the carotid area, and it took 30-40 minutes, had to change snouts, aperture, body position. When I had IMRT, bilaterally, from brifge of nose down to shoulders they had 17 zaps to both sides of the neck, and took 17 minutes. I know of someone who had IMRT for 20 sessions, followed by Proton Therapy for 10 or 15 sessions. There is a new type of Proton Therapy, IMPT, may also be called pencil beam, may only be at one location or will soon be. There is no need to make any changes with the snouts. Also, there are only 11 Proton Therapy centers in the country."

 

Doing your homework is important - between the experiences people have on this network, your private education and your calling and meeting with specialists of the different disciplines you can help yourself a great deal in trying to make the right decision - a big part of me says that if after consulting with the specialists it is determined that one particular type is best I would opt for that type - this is me - the smaller part would make a decision that might not be based on the decision of the specialist.  My personal experience was with IMRT - I let the H&N specialist decide for me - I asked about proton therapy but it was not conducive to my tonsil cancer treatment plan that they thought was best for me.  Proton therapy is growing as another avenue and has been popping up at new places around the country  - but again my input is go with the specialist H&N treatment plan.  The information gained on this network was invaluble on what I should expect, the support was beyond outstanding and cannot be put into words suitable to do justice from the people on this network, and the care and expertise of the physicians and nurses and other support personnel in the treatment was the best - it has to be - I learned through postings and replies that side effects vary from one person to another, there is a general time during treatment where all seem to come together a bit and then divide again after treatment.  I hope you make the best informed decision you can make, sounds like you are doing your homework!!

Thoughts and Prayers

Steve

Bunnymom said:

Tomo Therapy

 

 

does anyone have information about Tomo Therapy? It is supposed to be a refinement of IMRT 

 

THANK YOU!!!

 

BunnyMom

It is supposed to cause less collateral damage and my RO did something called "dose painting"  we were trying to spare my parotid so I would still make saliva someday (I have about 50% back at 4+ mos post rads.  I watched a good video about it from Sloan-Kettering Memorial.   Dr. Nancy Lee who was my RO's memtor does this.  See what you think.  

I did experience severe mouth sores at day 8 and neck burns at 6 weeks.  I did not need a feeding tube (but had one at MD's insistance) and was able to swallow the entire time, but did choke on some things and had to mainly exist on smoothies, pureed soups, cream of wheat etc.   

Do not know if this helps,  feel free to ask more questions,

PJ

while sorta on the subject of radiation

it is my understanding back in the late 80's was general radiation, then in the late 90's was tomo therapy, followed by 2000's IMRT followed closely by Photon Therapy. 

the dates may be very general and wrong but the order of availability is what i thought it was. 

does any one know for certainty the order?

thanks 

John 

Good discussion here, BunnyMom good luck with your choice. 

Bunnymom said:

I have an appointment with

I have an appointment with the board on Tuesday and a second opinion on Thursday. I just came home from the hospital yesterday after surgery. I. Doing well Considering this was my fourth surgery And third neck dissection. 

 

BunnyMom

Make sure you have your open questions with your representing doctor. He wiill be the presenter and would likely be probing the others about your topics. You are more an observer but you might get time to ask yourself. Also, feel out your doctor about his discussing your questions. He might be reluctant to pose questions to which there is general consensus to which you are the one that wants to see the nods. Maybe not a big deal. Also, your doc may be in board well before your case is heard so make sure to touch base on Monday. Make sure to let the people there know who you are just to make sure you don't get forgotten. Generally, patients do not attend tumor board so they might go from one case to the next.  Good luck, Don

Bunnymom said:

I have an appointment with

I have an appointment with the board on Tuesday and a second opinion on Thursday. I just came home from the hospital yesterday after surgery. I. Doing well Considering this was my fourth surgery And third neck dissection. 

 

BunnyMom

You are amazing!  It took me 6 months to get my range of motion back in my arm and shoulder after my one and only dissection.  The area where the scar is is still quite tender.  I feel for you.  Which ever kind of radiation you have will most likely destroy the cancer.

Oh,BTW  I just had my first PET scan and it showed abnormal activity on the side where I had the neck dissection.  The radiation oncologist is not worried and believes it is inflamation from the neck dissection on the muscle.  It is diffuse and not focal or looking like a lymph node.  So we shall see...  I am getting a second look at the scan just to be sure.

Take care and hope you will heal fast.

PJ